Gun carrier



March 17, 1970 R. D. EMERICK 3,501,074 GUN cgaami I Original Filed Sept. 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [ober/ D. [mar/ck.

' ATTORNEY n V INVENTOR United States Patent Int. Cl. F41c 33/00 US. Cl. 224-1 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A gun carrier comprised of a harness, a trough-like cradle for holding a rifle or shotgun, and portions engaging the gun to prevent it from longitudinally slipping out of the trough, but yet permitting the gun to be readily released from the cradle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application is a substitute for abandoned application Ser. No. 224,792 filed Sept. 19, 1962 v Gun rests have been devised, for example, as shown in US. Patent 2,574,143 and US. Reissue Patent 16,238 which function somewhat to relieve thetedium of holding a gun of the above type for long periods. However, these arrangements have not allowed the wearer complete freedom of hand movement. U

According to the present invention, a rifleor shotgun can be carried at a high port arms disposition without attendant manual attention, thereby freeing both hands of a person equipped with this novelcarrier.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the presentinvention to provide a gun are freed while A feature of the present invention is that the gun carrier includesa cradle portion arranged to tendv to rotate a rifle carried therein in an upwardly direction toward the wearer as distinguished from downwardly and away from the wearer, thereby tending to retain rather than to release the rifle. Furthermore, the gun carrier arrangement is disposed to maintain a rifle safely oriented with respect to the wearer even should he fall down.

Finally, it is still another object of the invention to provide a gun carrier apparatus which equalizes and distributes across the back and shoulders of the wearer the weight of a rifle being carried.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a gun carrier wherein the trigger of a rifle being carried is protected against accidentalengagement.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing which discloses, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode which has been contemplated of applying that principle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, there is provided a gun carrier for a rifle or shotgun which holds the weapon in a port arms position and in which the weapon is readily releasable although firmly held as by overhanging portions of a trough-like cradle or a trigger guard receiving and retaining portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment 3,501,074 Patented Mar. 17, 1970 of the invention as worn by a person shown in phantom lines.

FIGURE 2 is a detailed perspective view of the troughlike cradle.

FIGURE 3 is a section view taken at line 33 of FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 shows the wire framework overlying the jacket-covering during manufacture of the FIGURE 1 embodiment.

FIGURE 5 shows another embodiment according to the invention.

FIGURE 6 shows the underlying cradle structure of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 shows a transverse section along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 shows a portion of a harness in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Briefly stated, the present invention provides a gun carrier particularly useful with conventional, as well as bolt action rifles, shotguns, and similar weapons.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the apparatus is comprised generally of a harness 10 which supports a trough-like cradie 20, best shown in FIGURE 2. Harness 10 includes a pair of shoulder straps 11a and 11b. Each of straps 11 is disposed to lead upwardly from the front of the wearer over his respective shoulders, across the back and beneath the rib cage of the wearer, and finally leading belt-like around the front of the wearer where the ends of straps 11 can overlap and be fastened to each other by means, such as several snap fasteners 13 of conventional design.

Where straps 11 cross in back of the wearer, there is shown a leather pad 14 having a pair of slits 15 substantially parallel to the sides of a strap 11a and normal to the sides of strap 11b. Strap 11b leads through both slits 15 while strap 1111 leads between strap 11b and the exposed outer surface of pad 14. In this way, straps 11 are held in place centrally of the back of the .wearer, or as desired. Suitable conventional adjusting buckles 16 permit the harness to be adjusted to size for any particular person. As straps 11 lead around in front of the wearer, they pass respectively through loops 17a and 17b, formed in the initial ends of straps 11 by doubling them back upon themselves and sewing the looped ends thus formed. As noted above, snap fasteners 13, disposed in the overlapping terminal ends, function as a buckle. Strap 11b extends below loop 17b to provide a depending end 18 to which cradle 20 can be secured.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 2, cradle 20 includes a suitable heavy gauge wire frame 22, for example No. 9 galvanized wire, preferably of one piece construction formed to include a pair of roughly parallel longitudinal side rails 24a and 24b, rail 2411 being nearest the wearer and referred to as the proximal rail, and rail 24b being disposed away from the wearer and referred to as the distal rail. Frame 22 is bent to provide a pair of U-shaped end portions a and 25b. The corners 27 at the transition between slide rails 24 at end portion 25a are sufficiently inwardly turned to extend partially over a gun, for example, rifle 29, approximately at the forestock portion thereof. In this fashion, corners 27 serve to grip rifle 29. The lower end 25b can also be similarly so provided with retaining corners.

A jacket 30 of deformable material such as leather encloses frame 22 by folding the margin thereover and stitching the periphery thereof. Referring to FIGURE 4, this can be accomplished by laying out frame 22 flatwise before bending and making it into the preferred unitary construction shown, merely by welding ends 32 of frame 22.

A pair of acket halves 33 are provided so that frame 22 extends around a marginal portion thereof. The peripheral margins of jacket halves 33 are then folded over frame 22 and stitched to themselves. As best shown in FIGURE 4, each of jacket halves 33 includes a pouch portion 33a formed to overlap one another as disposed in FIGURE 4 so that when edges 24 are bent up into substantially parallel spaced relation as shown in FIG- URE 2, portions 33a will form a trigger guard receiving pouch 35. Frame 22 is further formed to include a bend 37, if desired, disposed to receive the bolt of a bolt-action rifle, such as shown in FIGURE 1.

From the foregoing construction, it will be observed that when jacket halves 33 are seamed together and secured upon frame 22 as formed in FIGURE 2, the trigger guard of rifle 29 rests securely in pouch 35 while the forestock of rifle 29 is gripped securely by the overlying corners 27. Thus, pouch 35 keeps rifle 29 from sliding out of cradle while corners 27 retain rifle 29 against removal upwardly. Furthermore, frame 22 can be deformed to accommodate various sizes of rifles merely by spreading or squeezing end portions to conform therewith. Since frame 22, although of a stiff heavy gauge wire as noted, contains a limited degree of resilience,

and heavy clothing of the wearer. The upper end of strap 38 is attached by stitching 43 at a disposition rather high upon the proximal side, i.e., nearest the wearer of jacket 33. It has been found that connecting strap 38 rather high up on the side of jacket 33, preferably adjacent rail 24a, as shown best in FIGURE 3, imparts a slight counterclockwise rotation, as shown by arrow 44 (FIGURE 3) to cradle 20, thereby tending to rotate the distal side of jacket 33 upwardly and toward the wearer so as to assist in retaining gun 29 therein.

Over the top or rifle 29 and connected to the proximal side of cradle 20 (by sewing at one end) is an elastic safety strap 46 disposed intermediate the ends 25 of cradle 20 and provided at its free end with means such as a conventional snap fastener 47 for attachment to the distal side of jacket 30.

After having manufactured cradle 20, it is attached, as by sewing 48, onto shoulder straps 11a and 11b so as to be positioned preferably in a high port arm disposition.

As can be seen, and as will be readily apparent from the foregoing description, the gun carrier above described frees the hands of the wearer completely so as not to require his attention in carrying rifle 29. In addition, the trigger guard is covered so as to protect the trigger against accidental engagement which would discharge the rifle, as well as carrying the rifle in a relatively safe disposition. This safe disposition is maintained even if the wearer should fall. Thus, the rifle would not be apt to be dropped from cradle 20 even in such an instance. It can be appreciated that merely by squeezing or spreading rails 24 at either (or both) ends, many sizes of rifles can be accommodated, including bolt-action rifles requiring the presence of bend 37. Furthermore, shoulder straps 11 can be of a suitably colored material, such as bright yellow, to serve additionally as a safety factor to the wearer while hunting. Finally, it should be noted that harness 10 will distribute the weight of rifle 29 evenly across the back and both shoulders of the wearer.

The above gun carrier can be worn over cumbersome military accouterments in a manner permitting quick 4 release and disposition of rifle 29, thereby making it advantageous for use with amphibious troops who might accidentally fall into the water while descending on cargo nets.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGURES 5 through 7. As shown in FIGURE 6, a rigid underlying structure of stiff material such as heavy gauge sheet metal, for example, No. 26 gauge black ironor galvanized iron, is formed into a U-sha-ped cradle 50. As formed, cradle 50 includes a pair of substantially parallel longitudinal upper edges 51 which are turned inwardly to provide retaining ridge portions 51 therealong. Ridge portions 51 protrude in gripping relation over a gun lodged in the cradle. At the lower end of cradle 50 there is formed a hole 53 covered by a metal trigger guard cup 52 tack welded thereto. Cup 52 serves to ensure against any inadvertent contact with the trigger which might discharge a weapon being carried.

Cradle 50 further is formed with a gun bolt receiving recess 54. The metal structure of FIGURE 6 is then covered by a suitable plastic material serving to provide a rubber-like surface covering 59 thereon. If desired, cradle 50 can be provided with additional padding, such as pads 60 of foam rubber or the like, to protect the finish of the weapon being carried.

Cradle 50 is then supported upon a harness as shown in FIGURE 5 by riveting the cradle to straps 55a, 55b, similar to straps 11a, 11b in FIGURE 1. The ends of straps 55a, 55b are fastened together by means of a belt section 56 provided at each end with a buckle cooperating with the respective ends 57a, 57b, of straps 55. Finally, a retaining strap 58 is riveted to the proximal wall of cradle 50 and adapted to be snapped, in use, to the distal wall.

With reference to FIGURE 8 there is shown a partial view of a preferred harness in accordance with the invention. As is shown, straps 11a and 11b are disposed to cross in back of the wearer. Fastening means are provided, such as snap fasteners 61 and 62, which serve to secure the shoulder straps to each other at the region of intersection. The fastening means serves to prevent relative movement of one of the straps along the other whereby sliding is substantially precluded and the harness can be maintained in the position as adjusted to the person. To this end, several male snap fasteners 61, have been attached to the inside surface of strap 11b and several female fasteners 62 have been attached to the outside surface of strap 11a. As thus arranged, these fasteners can be interlocked for precluding the relative movement above described.

Accordingly, while there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it will be readily apparent that while the foregoing description relates generally to transporting a rifle, the gun carrier is equally useful in carrying a shotgun. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is: a

1. A gun carrier comprising a shoulder harness adapted to be worn by a person while supporting a rifle or shotgun, a gun holder comprising a trough-like cradle secured to said harness, said cradle serving to carry therein a gun of the. size and shape of a rifle or shotgun, said cradle being further disposed from said harness and positioned to be oriented diagonally across the torso of the wearer approximately in a port arms disposition, said cradle being open along the top to provide spaced parallel edges to receive a rifle or shotgun therebetween, said edges being formed to provide a holding portion protruding in gripping relation partially over the rifle or shotgun lodged in said cradle, said cradle further including a pouch disposed near the lower end thereof to receive the trigger guard of said rifle or shotgun to cooperate therewith in retaining the gun in the cradle.

2. In a gun carrier as in claim 1 wherein said cradle comprises a wire frame and a covering supported by said frame to form a jacket suspended therefrom for partially enclosing said gun, said frame including a pair of spaced and substantially parallel longitudinal sides connected by U-shaped end portions, said holding portion comprising sufiiciently inwardly turned corners at the transition between said sides and at least one of said end portions to extend partially over said gun, the edge remote from the wearer being relieved and formed to receive the bolt of a bolt-action weapon whereby the pouch, the inwardly turned corners, and relieved portion of the last named edge serve to maintain a gun lodged in said cradle diagonally of the wearer.

3. In a gun carrier as in claim :1 further including a strap depending downwardly from said cradle, one end of said strap being secured to said cradle substantially adjacent the edge nearest the wearer to depend downwardly free of said cradle from the edge adapted to be worn next to the torso, the other end of said strap including means for securing the depending end thereof to the clothing of the wearer sufficiently taut to tend to rotate the cradle upwardly and toward the wearer.

4. A gun carrier adapted to be attached to a harness and supported on a person therefrom in a port arms disposition, said carrier comprising a unitary frame of stiff wire having limited resilience formed to include a pair of spaced apart substantially parallel longitudinal sides connected by U-shaped end portions, said frame including sufficiently inwardly turned corners at the transition between said sides and one end portion to cause said corners to extend partially over a gun lodged in said carrier thereby gripping said gun, a jacket of deformable material marginally enclosing said frame and supported thereby, said jacket including a pouch dimensioned and disposed in position to receive the trigger guard of a gun,

the tips of said U-shaped portions being spaced sufiiciently when taken with said limited resilience to permit a gun to be forced downwardly therebetween into, and held by, said jacket, and a strap depending downwardly from the upper region of the side of said jacket nearest the wearer of said carrier, said strap including means at its distal end adapted for attachment to the clothing of the wearer.

5. A gun carrier comprising a shoulder harness adapted to be worn by a person, a gun holder comprising a trough-like cradle for carrying a gun of the type such as a rifle or shotgun, said cradle being secured to said harness to be carried diagonally across the torso of the wearer approximately in a port arms disposition, said cradle being open along the top to provide spaced parallel edges to receive a gun of the above type therebetween and further including a holding portion formed to protrude in gripping relation partially over the gun lodged in said cradle, said cradle further including a receiving and retaining portion disposed near the lower end thereof to receive and engage the trigger guard of said gun and inhibit relative sliding movement between the gun and cradle, said cradle being formed to include a pair of substantially parallel longitudinal sides of relatively stilt material, said sides having upper longitudinal edge portions turned inwardly to form retaining ridge portions adapted to protrude in gripping relation partially over the gun when lodged in said cradle.

6. A gun carrier according to claim 5 wherein said retaining portion comprises a pouch formed as a rigid cup disposed in protective relationship to enclose the trigger guard and trigger of said gun thereby ensuring against accidental discharge of the gun.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 16,238 12/1925 Thompson 224-1 3,187,967 6/1965 Somple 2241 GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner 

